Sketch of an Astronaut

Prose Poems, Posted Periodically.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Seduction of Nuns, A Poem

Here's a goofy poem, more of a slam-type poem, I read last night at Word of Mouth at Bossa in D.C. I'm not really into the political/radical earth mother vibe they had there, but at least a few people laughed at this. I'm good at comic relief, maybe.
Seduction of Nuns
by Donald Illich
I’ve gotten in the bad habit
of seducing nuns lately.
How I do it: I buy
a cheap Jesus costume
from a down on his luck
prophet. Then I wait
till it’s dark and all
the windows of the convent
are open on a hot night.
Climbing vines up
the wall, I ascend
to the cutest girl’s room.
Shh, I say. I’ve heard your
prayers. I know you’ve
had doubts. I’m here
to place my blessing
in you. Shh, it’s O.K.,
we’re married. Then,
in the next few months,
I write about unexplained
visions of the savior,
miracle pregnancies
everyone winks at.
I’ve long since
burned my disguise,
the beard’s smoke
rising like a devil’s kiss.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Success?

Why am I driven so much now by the idea of success, by being recognized as a good writer by other people? Not that I don't work hard on my poetry, but it just seems to be written with one goal -- love and respect from strangers. It's probably the subject of a good poem itself. I have been having more success, but it doesn't seem enough. I always feel like I'm failing, even when I'm not. Too much envy, probably, not feeling like I'm doing well enough for someone who's 33. I know these are immature thoughts, but it seems right to acknowledge them so I can get a grip on my life. Probably everyone feels this way sometimes.